Your Views

23RD DISTRICT

We can depend on Woods

State Rep. Beverly Woods' door has always been open to people with disabilities and their families. She listens to our concerns and advocates for needed programs and services.

In a time when our state is facing major budget cuts, Rep. Woods has fought for us and against major cuts that would hurt our most vulnerable children and adults.

We need Beverly Woods in Olympia to keep fighting for the developmentally disabled community and all citizens. You can count on her to do what's right.

Andrea Nesbitt

Bremerton

I don't endorse Woods

To the Editor:

My photograph in the political tract of Beverly Woods does not indicate my endorsement of her candidacy.

Rep. Ruth Fisher

Tacoma

Chairwoman

House Transportation Committee

Tacoma

Appleton will deliver

To the Editor:

The Sun thinks Beverly Woods has performed satisfactorily in her tenure as a legislator in the 23rd District. You will find that most local government jurisdictions would disagree.

We need more understanding of the role cities and the county play in keeping essential services affordable to our public than Woods has shown. We need more political courage to champion the issues that will protect our ability to attract business and grown in ways that can reduce tax burdens locally than Woods has demonstrated. We need a legislator that will be home when we knock on the door seeking legislative assistance.

We need ALL of our legislators on the thank-you list for making sure the county and our cities are among those receiving available funding for critical projects. We need much more than Woods has delivered.

Vote for Sherry Appleton for more. She can and will deliver.

Sherril Huff Menees

Bremerton

Woods earned our support

To the Editor:

Good citizens of Kitsap, it is time to rise up and reject the nasty, negative ads attacking state Rep. Beverly Woods.

These vicious ads not only distort her photograph, they also distort her record and stands on the issues.

Beverly Woods is a highly respected leader on both sides of the aisle. She works tirelessly on behalf of Kitsap citizens to ensure long-term funding for our ferries, school quality, affordable health care, and jobs and economic growth.

She is a budget hawk and is opposed to a state income tax. Beverly demonstrates the courage, wisdom, and common sense to point out government waste and to cast difficult votes.

Please join me and vote for Beverly Woods. She has earned our support and does not deserve to be smeared by the liberals on the left.

John Norris

Silverdale

Appleton is best choice

To the Editor:

With a budget already cut to the bone, our state legislators will face a $2 billion budget shortfall.

Increasingly, counties and cities are facing similar budgetary challenges. Necessary services are being cut or terminated. Our citizens can no longer expect the same level of service from the government that we have enjoyed in the past.

Ironically, this is the time when those services are most needed. In the long run, our society will pay for its fiscal conservatism. Unemployment, domestic violence, drug use and crime are all predictable consequences of reducing necessary services to those most in need.

We need a legislator who understands this, and who has the experience to make the necessary, tough choices. Sherry Appleton has that experience, as a former city council person, lobbyist for the environment, unions and patients, human rights commissioner and member of the Judicial Conduct Commission.

Vote for Sherry Appleton.

Steve Olsen

Bainbridge Island

Woods fights for us

To the Editor:

I would like to urge your readers to join me and vote to re-elect state Rep. Bev Woods, 23rd District.

She has worked with due diligence on behalf of Kitsap County as well as for the rest of our district. Her status of leadership in the House gives her opportunities to continue to be effective on our behalf as she works to solve our transportation problems, balance the state's horrendous budget deficit and to work hard to keep Kitsap economically viable.

I respect her fiscal responsibility and understanding.

She fights for all of us in Olympia. She is a straight shooter who isn't afraid to tackle tough issues. We need her leadership and common sense approach to governing and especially her experience in making tough yet balanced decisions.

As a council member for the city of Poulsbo, I understand how much gumption that takes.

Mike Regis

Poulsbo

COMMISSIONER RACE

Botkin does the job

To the Editor:

For the sake of your city and county, your pocketbook (you have to pay for growth) and what's left of our cultural and environmental heritage, please support Tim Botkin.

He listens and studies all sides of problems and works with all interested parties. He works with people to make real progress instead of blaming someone else. Since 1997, the county commissioners -- Garrido, Botkin, Endresen and now Angel -- have made significant progress in addressing these problems created by rampant unplanned growth.

And all you ferry riders, please remember that when the fares were going to be tripled it was Tim who met with King County, Pat Lantz, Betti Sheldon and all the ferry riders, and we got the fares reduced significantly.

I'll be voting for Botkin because he has been doing his job.

Mike Shepherd

Bremerton

What are Botkin's goals?

To the Editor:

I question the character of Tim Botkin and the regard with which he views his fellow citizens. I was amused when I noticed that a "green" campaign mailer we received contained photographs of 46 people, and the only male pictured was Tim himself. I am beginning to get the impression that Mr. Botkin feels his opponent's most significant appeal is her gender.

If Smart Growth is a sound concept, it will stand on its own merits. People won't need to be coerced into living in urban villages. I believe Smart Growth's proponents should lead by example. Does Mr. Botkin live in an urban village such as that pastel utopia of feline togetherness, Poulsbo Place?

Does he bike or ride Kitsap Transit to Kitsap Smart Growth Coalition meetings?

My belief is that the true motive behind the Kitsap Smart Growth Coalition is of a more sinister nature. I believe their goal is to eliminate affordable rural housing for the masses, shifting property ownership to a more elite class and their equestrian estates.

John Vandeman

Silverdale

This Democrat likes Lent

To the Editor:

Electing creative candidates capable of original solutions is essential. Budget deficits at all levels of government require a businesslike approach to governance.

Democratic Commissioner Tim Botkin, a lawyer, has had a four-year run at throwing taxpayer money around. His style is too expensive and short on accomplishment.

His Republican opponent, Patty Lent, has the creative mind and successful business experience Kitsap County deserves in a commissioner.

Legislative District 23, Position 2, incumbent Republican Beverly Woods, has small-business experience and the creative mind needed more than ever in Olympia.

Her Democratic opponent is Sherry Appleton, lobbyist for several special-interest groups. She has experience at sharp elbow shoving to get at the public trough in Olympia. There is nothing in her background or temperament to indicate she is needed in the Legislature.

As a pander-free Democrat, I urge you to vote for Patty Lent for commissioner and return Beverly Woods to the Legislature.

Robert T. Medley

Tracyton

Botkin wastes our money

To the Editor:

Good grief. I want to know how many thousands of our tax dollars Tim Botkin spent to hire the Bellevue architect on his latest crackpot scheme to design a Community Campus area south of Silverdale.

This plan will simply not work because the property owners or their lessees will obviously not cooperate. Even if Mr. Botkin decides to spend more of our tax dollars to sue to acquire title to the land based on eminent domain, he will have the impossible task of proving a public need in court.

This is a perfect example of what this man has subjected the taxpayers of Kitsap County to in the past four years of his term in office.

If Pluto were the only candidate to run against Tim Botkin, I would vote for the dog. I will even provide the "doggy treats" for the commissioner's meetings.

Gordon E. Bemrose

Port Orchard

Let's dump Botkin

To the Editor:

About the article "Tim Botkin seeks a second term":

The article mentioned that some people see Botkin as an arrogant know-it-all. How true that statement is. Because of his know-it-all attitude, he and Chris Endresen have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayers' money to lawsuits because they both thought they were always right even when they were wrong.

For my tax dollars, I want someone that has an open mind on issues and will use common sense before making decisions. It's time to relieve Botkin of his duties of a commissioner. As a taxpayer of Kitsap County, my vote will be for Patty Lent. She will bring a breath of fresh air and common sense to the commissioner's seat.

Arnoldo Chapa

Bremerton

COUNTY CORONER

Vote for our son

To the Editor:

We read Angela Smith's recent article on the coroner's race and we wished to respond to some "facts" in the story that weren't true. We don't know anything about Coroner Greg Sandstrom's claimed ministry or state patrol service but we do know just how bad he has run our Coroner's Office.

It's in a WWII building with a separate morgue in an unmaintained house that lost much of its foundation in a recent earthquake. Our darn taxes go to prop this thing up. Talk about tax waste.

During Sandstrom's tenure, public documents have taken 11 weeks to receive (law allows five days) and the reserve deputy program was disbanded.

Our son, Ed Rollman, has a fresh, new approach (use federal funds, not your taxes to build a new morgue). He is a thoughtful, compassionate father, experienced in hiring and managing the best forensic pathologist. Vote Ed Rollman for coroner.

James and Sally Rollman

Bremerton

STATE SUPREME COURT

Alexander is anti-abortion

To the Editor:

We will join voters from many political parties to write-in Steve Alexander for state Supreme Court, Position 4.

His philosophy of judicial restraint has benefited Kitsap County for 21 years. Judicial activism, which legislates political views, jeopardizes the very constitutions established to protect our God-given rights.

Judicial activism directed Roe v. Wade. Neither our Constitution nor the Bible grants abortion as a right. Both candidates on the ballot for Position 4 are 100 percent endorsed by NARAL. Judge Alexander is anti-abortion.

Loss of 2,800 lives in the evil 9/11 attack outrages us. Daily, 3,500 children are aborted. Has God removed his protection from our violent nation because we no longer defend the sanctity of life?

To protect our lives, liberty and property, write in Steve Alexander for state Supreme Court, Position 4.

Al Colvin, Bremerton

David & Anitalane Blair, Bremerton

Russell Swank, Silverdale

Cris Shardelman, Poulsbo

Write in Alexander

To the Editor

Several years ago, I was in my front yard on a Saturday morning when Judge Steve Alexander drove up and parked across the street. Surprised, I greeted him and asked what he was doing in our neighborhood.

He said when he was an attorney that he prosecuted a young man and sent him to jail. Now, years later, he was coming to perform the young man's wedding ceremony. A judge making a house call on his day off.

The day of Steve's retirement celebration, the 600- to 700-person facility was packed. His peers and friends, along with his family, stood to praise his career and his character. I don't know anyone in Kitsap County who is more loved and respected, both professionally and personally. No one else would serve as a Supreme Court justice more professionally and compassionately.

Please write in Steve Alexander's name for Position 4 on the state Supreme Court.

Larry James

Silverdale

Vote for Loginsky

To the Editor:

I feel that it is imperative that we elect a judge to the state Supreme Court who will bring balance to this judicial body. Particularly when one understands that the state Supreme Court is the final rule-making authority for all state courts.

While I agree with Mr. Alexander that "The Supreme Court should not be the domain of judges who seek to impose their private policy preferences on the public," I have to wonder why he became involved in the process only after Ellen and Bruce Craswell encouraged him as a write-in candidate who expounded their beliefs.

I have found Pam Loginsky to be not only knowledgeable and compassionate but, from the first time I met her at the Kitsap County Courthouse many years ago, I was taken by her knowledge of and belief in the judicial system.

I am therefore voting for Ms. Loginsky for Supreme Court justice for Washington on Tuesday.

Barbara Parker Waaga

Port Hadlock

REFERENDUM 51

No-whining zone

To the Editor:

After reading some of the letters and editorials on how each person has their own excuse about why they won't or can't vote for R-51.

There's the "poor me" this and the "poor me" that. But if you put 18 gallons in your tank it adds up to $1.62.

If you drive, you pay a fair user tax. What a concept -- and if it saves a few lives and makes some of our fellow Washingtonians' commute a little shorter and safer, then it's money well spent, whether on this side of the mountains or the other.

Or think of it this way: If we vote it in, we can continue to whine and complain about how our transportation dollars are spent. If we vote against it, then the "poor me" attitude should result in an end to the continuous traffic complaints.

Now that's a thought, vote yes and continue to complain or vote no and live in a No Whining Zone.

If I thought this no-whining thing was possible, I might change my vote.

Ken Brazeau

Kingston

Thanks, but no thanks

To the Editor:

I finally get it. I get to pay 9 cents more a gallon for fuel, 1 percent more sales tax if I purchase another vehicle, and more for all of the goods I purchase to pay for the increased fees on truckers.

The people living in Seattle and Spokane and the surrounding areas get starts on more pavement. On top of this, I get to pay at least a $3 toll on the Narrows Bridge or take a scenic drive through Shelton to get off the Kitsap Peninsula.

I do not think so.

Our governor says 20,000 more jobs will be generated. Maybe in three or four years. It will take that long to study, survey and design the new roads and get through most of the lawsuits that will be generated by the environmentalists and the NIMBYs.

Oh, by the way, we will need more taxes to build the roads.

We need better ways to move people and goods, but Referendum 51 does not do it.

Harry Gilger

Poulsbo

I don't trust the state

To the Editor:

I encourage voters to vote no on Referendum 51. This appears to be a permanent gas tax. Although I do agree that we need to improve our roads. This is not the way to go about it.

For the record, Brock Jackley, Pat Lantz and Betty Ringlee are all proponents of the transportation measure.

Ask yourself, do you want to pay for new ferries when the old ones seem to be working just fine? It would cost less to repair than buying new. Do you want to pay for a new 420 bridge? Should the people that use that bridge pay tolls, like we will when using the new Tacoma Narrows bridge?

The state of our roads did not happen overnight. This has been an ongoing problem; they should have been maintained throughout the years when we were paying a higher license tab fee.

I personally would like to know what happened to the state's promise when they implemented a state lottery. They said a lot of the money would go for roads and schools. What happened?

Dean Wright

Poulsbo

26TH DISTRICT

McMahan didn't teach in the U.S.

To the Editor:

I am an educator who cannot stand by and allow constituents in the 26th District to be misled again by Lois McMahan.

Lois lists her occupation in the voter's guide as "teacher." I personally spoke with her, and she admitted she never taught school in the United States and does not hold any college degree now needed to teach here. She claims she taught in the 1960s, for a very short time, in a foreign country having no teaching requirements. Asked about the voter's guide, she said, "It was a mistake."

Voters, please know that Lois supports, and is promoted by, the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, a radical organization. I feel Lois is deceiving you, saying she wants "dollars in the classroom." What Lois wants is your vote, and she will say anything to get it.

McMahan, integrity? Not even close.

Lynn Jabs

Bremerton

Oke has integrity

To the Editor:

State Sen. Bob Oke is a man who cares about our community. He has taken many opportunities to serve others and his district.

My husband and I walk the beautiful trails at the South Kitsap Community Park. We are very thankful for the years that Sen. Oke served us as a South Kitsap Community Park and Recreation commissioner. His efforts helped to make the park a reality for our families to enjoy.

In every encounter we have found him to be a man of integrity and courage, always looking out for others.

We need his experience and years of seniority leading the 26th District.

Nancy Marasco

Manchester

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LETTERS

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